Oh, Canada
Mountain lakes, cosmopolitan cities and a touch of old-world France, starting just a two-hour flight from home.
Close to home, a world away
Canada is the second-largest country on earth, and it feels like several countries in one. The West Coast is green, outdoorsy and laid-back. The Rockies are pure mountain grandeur. Québec is proudly French-speaking, with stone streets, sidewalk cafés and a culture all its own. English and French are both official languages, and you will see both on every sign.
Vancouver is the easiest place to start, about two hours from SFO, with Stanley Park, the seawall and the mountains right behind downtown. A ferry or floatplane takes you to Victoria and its flower-filled Inner Harbour. From there, many of our travelers head east by rail into the Rockies for Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. On the other side of the country, Québec City is the only walled city north of Mexico, Montréal mixes French flair with big-city energy, and Niagara Falls is a short drive from Toronto.
Summer, from June to September, brings long days and the best access to the mountains. Late September and early October are the time for fall color, especially on Canada & New England cruises between Boston or New York and Québec or Montréal. You will need a valid passport to enter Canada, so check yours before you book.
Canada at a glance
Our favorite ways to spend your time
Not an exhaustive list, just the things our travelers come home talking about.
Things to do
- Ride the Rocky MountaineerDaylight-only train journeys from Vancouver to Banff or Jasper, with an overnight stop in Kamloops so you never miss the scenery.
- Drive the Icefields ParkwayThe road between Lake Louise and Jasper is one of the most beautiful drives anywhere, lined with glaciers and turquoise lakes.
- Go whale watching from VictoriaOrcas, humpbacks and sea lions feed in the waters around Vancouver Island from spring through fall.
- Take a fall-foliage cruiseSail between New England and Québec, calling at ports like Halifax and Bar Harbor as the leaves turn.
- Get close to Niagara FallsRide a boat into the mist at the base of the Horseshoe Falls. You will get wet, and you will love it.
Places to go
- VancouverStanley Park, Granville Island and Gastown, with mountains and ocean in every direction. Also a top Alaska cruise port.
- VictoriaBritish Columbia's charming capital, known for its gardens, harbor and afternoon tea.
- Banff & Lake LouiseThe heart of the Canadian Rockies: hot springs, gondola rides and impossibly blue glacial lakes.
- JasperWilder and quieter than Banff, with great wildlife viewing and dark night skies.
- Québec City & MontréalOld-world charm and French cuisine without crossing the Atlantic. Lovely in any season.
Things to see
- Moraine LakeThe famous blue lake ringed by ten peaks, just up the road from Lake Louise.
- The Columbia IcefieldWalk on the Athabasca Glacier, one of the most accessible glaciers in North America.
- Old QuébecA UNESCO World Heritage Site of fortified walls, cobblestone lanes and the Château Frontenac towering above the St. Lawrence.
- Butchart GardensMore than a century old, these gardens outside Victoria bloom from spring through fall and sparkle with lights at Christmas.
- Niagara FallsThree waterfalls on the US–Canada border. The Canadian side has the best view of the Horseshoe Falls.
What to eat in Canada
Dishes to order
- PoutineFries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy. Born in Québec, now loved everywhere.
- Pacific salmonWild salmon on the West Coast, grilled, smoked or cured, often with a maple glaze.
- Montréal bagels & smoked meatWood-fired, honey-sweet bagels and piled-high smoked meat sandwiches are Montréal classics.
- Butter tarts & Nanaimo barsTwo very Canadian sweets: gooey pastry tarts and no-bake layered chocolate bars.
Where to eat
- Public marketsGranville Island in Vancouver and Jean-Talon in Montréal are perfect for grazing on local produce and snacks.
- Sugar shacks in QuébecIn early spring, rustic cabanes à sucre serve hearty meals and maple taffy rolled on fresh snow.
- Bistros in Old QuébecCozy French-style dining rooms in centuries-old stone buildings.
What to drink
- CaesarCanada's signature cocktail, like a Bloody Mary made with clam-tomato juice and a celery salt rim.
- IcewineSweet dessert wine from grapes frozen on the vine, a specialty of Niagara and the Okanagan Valley.
- Canadian whiskySmooth rye whiskies with a long history. Many distilleries offer tastings.
Let's plan your Canada trip
Canada rewards a little planning, from rail schedules in the Rockies to the best weeks for fall color, and we're happy to sort out the details for you. Tell us when you'd like to travel and we'll come back with options and current pricing.
